Home Stretch

(written June 2, 2023)

I guess they don’t call it the home stretch for nothing!

The spring has moved quickly and there are only two days left until we say goodbye to Florida, hello to Pennsylvania, and a new chapter of ministry. The last few weeks have been filled with packing boxes, planning for a move, selling a home, graduations, weddings, and many other special events. We have been blessed with the time and space to say goodbye to those we love here in South Florida as many here will always be like family to us.

At the same time, we eagerly anticipate beginning ministry and reuniting with friends and family. This summer will consist of many weeks of camp for the kids in Coatesville, hosting churches who will bring ministry teams to work with County Corrections Gospel Mission (CCGM), and the possibility of increased ministry opportunities at Chester County Prison. Providence Church will be busy with two mission trips to Mexico this summer and the possibility of purchasing a new building space. We hope to acclimate in God’s timing and be an encouragement while coming alongside both CCGM and Providence Coatesville.

In the last few months there have been noteworthy answers to prayer and many reasons to give thanks.

We were given the opportunity to share our next steps with the Calvary community. We have been energized by the responses and overwhelmed at how our Soflo family has supported and encouraged us!

We have been blessed by faithful partners at CCGM who have provided us with temporary housing. This will allow us to get settled and look for permanent housing we can finally call home. This was a major prayer request that God has answered in a mighty way!

God has moved in the hearts of many people to come alongside us and pledge financial support for the work that God has called us to with CCGM.

There is still much to pray for…

Pray for our Family - Pray for our family as this will be a bittersweet transition but one filled with much excitement! We are asking that the Lord give us (and our belongings :) safe travels on our journey north. We also hope that our boys can adjust to the new area during the summer and a new school in the fall.

Pray for continued Support - Calvary is sending us out as urban missionaries! They have helped us get started financially, but we are still looking for those who will partner with us to accomplish Kingdom Work. Pray that God would connect us with key organizations and individuals to support us.

Pray for permanent Housing - First and foremost is the acknowledgement of God’s blessing and provision for our temporary housing, as we already noted. Once we settle, we will begin to search knowing God will provide as He is faithful.

This weekend, we attended our last service at Calvary Chapel Ft. Lauderdale before leaving and the final song the congregation sang was Great is Thy Faithfulness. When hearing the words “...all I have needed Thy hand hath provided…” It reminds us that we serve a great and faithful Savior who never fails.

Grace and Peace,

Steve